Since 2007 CDEA has been extended the branches to Oudomxay province which is one of the poorest in Laos. They are comprising 7 districts, 505 villages (included 333 villages are poor), 42,740 households(statistic of Oudomxay Province). The total population is 274,667 persons included 136,445 female. The main income of population is almost agriculture which is 100% base on nature. The total number of poor households are 15,2227. The Government has plans to extend electricity line on the long of the main road to districts. There are many villages in remote area without access to electricity. The main source of energy is firewood especially for daily cooking in household, the quantity of firewood used per year is about 3 to 5 m³.  For lighting and rice milling they use diesel which is 10 to 20 litres per month, the costs of diesel are nearly 1.5 $. There are only some villages and households can access to solar energy and pico hydro power. Corn is second crop after rice, the total area of corn production is 25000 ha (Ministry of Agriculture) it is the biggest after Sayaboury Province.

1. Economic conditions of target communities

Corn is the second crop after rice. Villagers produce rice for house consumption, corn for trade, furthermore villagers raise pigs, cows and poultry. The average income is approximately 800–1,200 $ per year and family.

2. Requirements for target area

From the personal and group interview conducted it made fully understood that villagers need electricity, good access road and income activities.

3. Accessibility to target area

Access road exist bus it is not in good condition especially during the raining season (see picture show). There are 4 villages in the zone no have access road as mentioned above.

4. Existing facilities in target area.

In the target area there is some activity has been started by Oudomxay Community Initiatives Support Project (OCISP) such as central office for the target village management, gravity water flow system and some community development fund for initiative the income generation.

5. Energy

The main source of energy used for cooking in the target area at the present is firewood. The quantity of firewood per family per year is approximately 3- 5m³. One Cubic meter cost 10 to 12USD. In addition the diesel also play an important role in lighting, rice milling and watching CD/DVD. The quantity of diesel used is approximately 5 to 20 litres/month. The cost of diesel is nearly 1,5 USD/litre. In the target villages only Bane Kongmung was completely established home solar system. Corn waste also can be used as energy source but it was not used properly. In the target village we could not fine Pico hydro power system.

Information about the project communities in Oudomxay province you will find at Hound district and Xay district.